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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Kirsten McStay & Lee Dalgetty

Edinburgh guitarist Davey Johnstone has biggest night of career at Glastonbury

Edinburgh guitarist Davey Johnstone took to the stage with Elton John at Glastonbury this weekend in the biggest night of his career.

Davey, who now lives in LA, performed for a crowd of more than 100,000 fans alongside Elton. The duo shared in the end of an era as the Yellow Brick Road farewell tour came to an end.

The 72-year-old joined hands with other members of Elton John's band, with an impressive fireworks display closing out the night. Speaking previously to the Mirror about the farewell tour, Davey admitted he and Elton were ready to call it a day.

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He said: “Quite honestly, we are both ready. Elton is ready for the same reason.

“You can’t keep doing it forever. It’s a job for guys in their 20s and 30s. I want to be with all my family and have a party in my backyard in LA."

Davey has been performing alongside Elton, 76, since 1971 and has shared the stage with the singer more than 4000 times. Before he began his musical journey with Elton, he worked with various other artists such as Stevie Nicks, Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper.

He was discovered after he joined band Magna, and began to get noticed by top names in the industry. He was then asked to play on Bernie Taupin's eponymous 1971 solo album, and it was this record that landed him in a meeting with Elton John.

Just months later, he was invited to join Elton John's band as a full member and the rest is history. Last week when Elton played at Glasgow's OVO Hydro, Davey told fans on social media he was emotional about performing 'back home'.

He wrote: "Feeling quite emotional about my last ever gig with Elton in Scotland. C’mon Glasgow, bring me home."

He is also his musical director and has co-written many classic songs, including I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. He also penned tracks with Elton for The Lion King soundtrack, and worked with him on Aida and Billy Elliot.

The band will now head to Sweden for their last ever performance. It is unknown what is next for Davey but the musician has been promoting his new solo album 'Deeper Than My Roots'.

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